July 20, 1776

Besides the Declaration of Independence, there was another declaration circulating by order of the Continental Congress in July 1776. This declaration was issued by the King’s Commissioners for Restoring Peace, Vice-Admiral Richard Howe and his brother, General William Howe. On July 19—the same day the Congress resolved to create a parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence for the delegates to sign—they ordered that the Howes’ declaration, as well as the accompanying letter they had written to the royal governors of the colonies, should be “published in the several Gazettes, that the good people of these United States, may be informed of what nature are the Commissioners.” They hoped that “the few, who still remain suspended by a hope founded either in the justice or moderation of their late King, may now, at length be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties.” 

The Howes’ declaration, initially drafted by the vice-admiral weeks earlier off the coast of North America, explained the commissioners’ limited powers. They offered “free and general pardons to all those who in the tumult and disorder of the times, may have deviated from their just allegiance” to the king.

The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
Printed by James Humphreys, Jr.

In CONGRESS, July 19. 1776.

Resolved, That a copy of the circular letters and of the declarations they enclosed from Lord Howe to Mr. W. Franklin, Mr. Penn, Mr. Eden, Lord Dunmore, Mr. Martin, and Sir James Wright, late Governors, sent to Amboy by a flag and forwarded to Congress, by General Washington, be published in the several Gazettes, that the good people of these United States, may be informed of what nature are the Commissioners and what the Terms, with the expectation of which the insidious court of Britain has endeavoured to amuse and disarm them; and that the few, who still remain suspended by a hope founded either in the justice or moderation of their late King, may now, at length be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties.

Extract from the journals.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.

“EAGLE, off the Coast of the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 20, 1776.

SIR,

BEING appointed Commander in Chief of the ships and vessels of his Majesty’s fleet, employed in North-America, and having the honor to be by his Majesty constituted one of his Commissioners for restoring peace to his Colonies, and for granting Pardons to such of his subjects therein as shall be duly solicitous to benefit by that effect of his gracious indulgence; I embrace this opportunity to inform you of my arrival on the American coast, where my first object will be an early meeting with Gen. Howe, whom his Majesty has been pleased to join with me in the said Commission.

In the mean time, I have judged it expedient to issue the inclosed Declaration, in order that all persons may have immediate information of his Majesty’s most gracious intentions: And I desire you will be pleased forthwith to cause the said Declaration to be promulgated, in such manner, and at such places within the province of New-Jersey, as will render the same of the most public notoriety.

Assured of being favoured with your assistance in every measure for the speedy and effectual restoration of the public tranquility, I am to request you will communicate, from time to time, such information as you may think will facilitate the attainment of that important object in the province over which you preside. I have the honor to be,

with great Respect and Consideration,
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
HOWE.”

By RICHARD VISCOUNT HOWE of the Kingdom of Ireland, one of the KING’S COMMISSIONERS for restoring peace to His Majesty’s Colonies and Plantations in North America, &c. &c. &c.

DECLARATION.

WHEREAS By an act passed in the last session of Parliament to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusett’s Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three Lower COunties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and for other purposes therein mentioned; it is enacted that “It shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons, appointed and authorised by his Majesty, to grant a Pardon or Pardons to any number or description of persons, by Proclamation, in His Majesty’s Name, to declare any Colony or Province, colonies or provinces, or any county, town, port, district, or place, in any Colony or Province, to be at the peace of His Majesty;” and that “from and after the issuing of any such Proclamation in any of the aforesaid colonies or provinces, or if His Majesty shall be graciously pleased to signify the same by His Royal Proclamation, then, from and after the issuing of such Proclamation,” the said “Act, with respect to such Colony or Province, colonies or provinces, county, town, port, district, or place, shall cease, determine, and be utterly void.”

And WHEREAS the King, desirous to deliver all his subjects from the calamities of war, and other oppressions which they now undergo, and to restore the said colonies to his protection and peace, as soon as the constitutional authority of government therein may be replaced: Hath been graciously pleased, by letters patent, under the great seal, dated the sixth day of May, in the sixteenth year of his Majesty’s reign, to nominate and appoint, me Richard Viscount Howe, of the kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe, Esquire, General of his forces in North-America, and each of us, jointly and severally, to be his Majesty’s Commissioner and Commissioners, for granting his free and general pardons to all those who in the tumult and disorder of the times, may have deviated from their just allegiance, and who are willing, by a speedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the Royal favour: And also for declaring, in his Majesty’s name, any colony, province, county, town, port, district, or place, to be at the peace of his Majesty. I DO, THEREFORE, hereby declare; That due consideration shall be had to the meritorious services of all persons who shall aid and assist in restoring the public tranquility in the said colonies, or in any part or parts thereof; That pardons shall be granted, dutiful representations received, and every suitable encouragement given, for promoting such measures as shall be conducive to the establishment of legal goverment and peace, in pursuance of his Majesty’s most gracious purposes aforesaid.

Given on board His Majesty’s ship the Eagle, off of the Coast of the Province of Massachusett’s Bay, the Twentieth Day of June, 1776.
HOWE.